The U.S. Department of Agriculture earmarked $121 million for infrastructure upgrades aimed at combating climate change across rural America, including helping people living in socially vulnerable communities.
The new investments are designed to help citizens across 49 states and Guam and Puerto Rico by helping rural communities address development, infrastructure and social service needs, according to an Aug. 24 news release.
“Rural America is on the front lines of climate change and our communities deserve investments that will strengthen all of our resilience,” U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh said in the release. “The Biden-Harris administration has created a roadmap for how we can tackle the climate crisis and expand access to renewable energy infrastructure. The investments we’re announcing today and those that will be made possible by historic funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will strengthen our energy security, create good-paying jobs and save Americans money on their energy costs.”
All the changes are being made with President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act in mind, which includes $14 billion in funding for USDA programs that support the expansion of biofuels and help rural communities transition to renewable energy and zero-emission systems, the release reported.
The investments include $111 million for three programs specifically designed to aid in the cause, namely the Community Facilities Disaster Grants, the Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans and Grants and the Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audits and Renewable Energy Development Grants, according to the release.
